Information current as at AUGUST 2024

Choir's Email Address: choir.secretary@chime.org.au

Choir's Website: chime.org.au and facebook.com/chimechoir

Vision statement / Artistic goals: Chime Choir loves singing great music and sharing it with others; it is committed to providing excellence in performance, professional governance and artistic practice, and a respectful community

Voice type: SATB

Choir performs: Both unaccompanied & accompanied

Year Choir formed: 1984

No. of Singing Members - Currently: 45 Desired: 50

Musical Repertoire: Genres include contemporary classical, popular, musicals, jazz, gospel and spiritual, folk, international, traditional sacred

Artistic Director: Jenny Mathers

No. of years in current post: since 2020

Previous musical experience: Jenny is currently the Director of Music at Korowa Anglican Girls' School, is passionate about choirs and conducting, and has had over 30 years of experience in teaching, performing and conducting music in schools and the community; Jenny completed a Masters of Education, majoring in Choral Conducting; she has regularly taught conducting at the Australian Choral Conductors Education and Training summer schools; Jenny is currently the President of the Victorian and Tasmanian Branch of the Australian National Choral Association (ANCA) and a casual lecturer for the Graduate Education Faculty at Deakin University; her musical career has given her international opportunities, including touring Europe twice as a singing member of Ensemble Gombert

Choir's past collaborations with other musical groups: The Idea of North, Hamilton Civic Choir (New Zealand), Southern Voices, Exaudi Choir, Knox Wind Symphony, Boroondara Brass, Grainger Wind Ensemble, organists Hugh Fullarton and Thomas Heywood, singers Aled Jones, Alexandra Mathew, Andrea Bocelli, and Silvie Paladino

Audition: Yes - Prospective members attend 1-2 rehearsals, then are auditioned by the Artistic Director

Minimum Attendance policy - Rehearsals: Yes Concerts: Yes

Membership Fees: $350 p.a. (full), $250 p.a. (student); the choir also offers a Young Performers' Fee Subsidy for full time students

Ability to read music: Desirable

Sight-reading ability: Desirable

Av. No. of rehearsals/week: 1

Usual rehearsal night(s): Tuesday

Suburb: Wantirna

Rehearsal venue: Performing Arts Centre, Wantirna College, 90 Harold St

Off-street parking: Yes, at the north end of the school, enter off Harold St, plus on-street parking

Performance Apparel: Women - Formal floor-length black dress or skirt with top; Men - Black trousers and shirt; costume may be varied to reflect concert themes and is accessorised according to performance requirements

Av. No. of Concert Programs/year: 3-4

Av. No. of Performances/year: 4-8

Sample of the Choir's past Concert Venues:Carnegie Hall (New York), Melbourne Recital Centre, Hamer Hall, Xavier College Chapel, Chapel at the Abbotsford Convent, Stones of the Yarra Valley Winery, The Centre (Ivanhoe), Alice Springs, Rod Laver Arena, Wantirna College, Ivanhoe Girls' Grammar, The Edge

Examples of musical pieces performed: Dreamweaver and Song of the Universal, Requiem and Stabat Mater (Karl Jenkins), medleys from Les Miserables, Disney musicals, and West Side Story, contemporary classical songs by Eric Whitacre, Ola Gjeilo, John Rutter, popular contemporary by Daniel Brinsmead, Kate Sadler, Eddie Perfect; for their 40th Anniversary in 2024, the choir has premiered commissioned works by Mark Puddy and Georgina Palmer

Touring: Yes - Melbourne Metro Area/Regional Victoria/Interstate/Overseas, incuding Auckland (NZ) for the 2024 World Choir Games, winning gold and silver medals

Administration / Governance arrangements for the Choir: Chime is a registered charity; at its Annual General Meeting, the Committee of Management is elected, comprising President, Vice-President, Secretary, Treasurer, and general members; the Artistic Director is a non-voting member of the Committee; Chime activities are supported by compliant guidelines including the Model Rules, Child Safety, Social Media, Privacy, and Discrimination Policies

Own collection of music scores: Yes

Available for hire to other groups: Yes, CHIME is a member of the Music Lending Scheme